Tours

Must-see places

THE POLE OF COLD

There are two settlements in Yakutia which vie to be considered as “The Pole of Cold” of the northern hemisphere – Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon.

Verkhoyansk

On January 15, 1885 S. F. Kovalik measured the temperature of −67.8 °C (−90.0 °F). This became the new world record, and is still the official record for the northern hemisphere. The opponents dispute this evidence with reference to the fact that the temperature measure was not held in Oymyakon at that time. This objection is disposed of by the re-registration of the same temperature on February, 1933. At the same time, the temperature on Oymyakon was -67.7 (−89.9 °F).

Oymyakon

There is the information that in 1924 the academicians S. V. Obruchev and K. A. Salischev registered the temperature of −71.2 °C (−96.2 °F), the lowest one in the northern hemisphere. However it was measured by the computational method that’s why it is not admitted officially.

Many people would like to see where the real mammoths used to live but only few of them know that most of the mammoth bones can be found in Yakutia. The layer of permafrost preserves thousands of unique exemplars incomparable to any others in the world. The Yukagir mammoth found in Yakutia not long ago is a demonstrative example and is expected to be a hit of forthcoming Expo 2005 in Nagoya.

We are happy to offer you the program as a chance to visit one of the unique mammoth graveyards on the Ulakhan Suullur Mountain in Verkhoyanskii region, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) with no extreme or special problems. You will have a great opportunity to take part in the mammoth bones search. More than that, the organizers of the route can guarantee your success 100%.

Ysyakh is the summer holiday in honor of Deities and nature revival. It is spent in the period between mid-June and mid-July depending on the region of Yakutia. This festival symbolizes the end of the previous and the beginning of the next year. Thus, there are two celebrations of the New Year in Yakutia – Ysyakh (traditional) and December 31 (common with all Russia).

The traditions include women and children decorating trees and tethering posts with “salama” (nine bunches of horse hair hung on horse-hair ropes). The oldest man, wearing white, opens the holiday. He is accompanied by seven virgin girls and nine virgin boys and starts the ritual by sprinkling kymys on the ground, feeding the fire. He prays to the spirits for the well-being of the people who depend on them and asks the spirits to bless all the people gathered.

Afterwards, people sing and dance Ohuakhai (national dancing), play national sport games, eat national dishes, drink kumys and watch horserace.

The national park “Lena Pillars” was established in 1995. The rocks are 150-300 meters high and become more and more beautiful and mysterious by the means of local climatic conditions. The temperature here varies from lower than -40 °C in winter to almost +40°C in summer period.

Many scientists of Yakutia consider this place as the possible cradle of mankind civilization. Here the primordial instruments of labor were found, one of the oldest on the planet.

Since July, 2012 Lena Pillars are inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage as one of the most amazing places on the planet with perfect natural ecosystem.

Labynkyr is the lake in Oymyakon region in the east of Yakutia. It is well-known for the uncertain creature which is supposed to live there. It has to be noted that despite of the very low temperature in winter (- 50°C and lower) the water freezes very slowly. It remains to be the mystery for the scientists.

The legend of Labynkyr

Local people believe that one very large creature lives in the lake and they call it “The devil of Labynkyr”. They describe it as dark-grey colored something with the huge chaps. According to the legend, “The Devil” is very aggressive and dangerous, attacks people and animals and even capable to get on the shore.

The scientists became interested in “The devil of Labynkyr” after the report of the expedition of geologist V.I. Tverdokhlebov:

“The creature floated close enough. It was something alive, some kind of animal. It moved through an arc: firstly along the lake and then directly to us. While it was getting closer I felt a strange consternation and cold inside of me. The dark grey carcass and eyes of the animal rose above the water. Something like stick was on the body… We saw only a little part of the animal, but I guess there was a huge massive body below the surface…”

THE PERMAFROST KINGDOM

The Permafrost Kingdom was opened as the tourist site on November 2008 on the initiative of V. Ipatyev who established the national tourist agency “Yakutia” and was in charge of it at that time. The huge ground glacier in the mountain Chochur Muran was bought for funds appropriated by the government of Yakutia. Here the supplies of fish and meat were kept for many years. This glacier was the natural freezer where the products could be kept for the year round at a temperature -10°C -12°C due to the properties of permafrost. Using this natural phenomenon, it was decided to found the year-round tourist attraction here where the lasting exhibition of ice sculptures, ice castles, snow camps and etc. could be organized. This made possible to stay inside in significantly more comfortable conditions than outside when it is -50°C in winter since the temperature in the Kingdom was only -12°C-15°C. On the contrary, when the temperature outside reached +35°C in summer, people could get from the heat into the snow kingdom and ride from the ice hill. Such contrasts generated considerable interest of the audience and the Kingdom became one of the most visited places for the guests and inhabitants of the republic for short term. The first international summer festival of the ice sculptures in June, 2009 had become the especially significant event. The samples of it are still exhibited in the gallery of the complex. Now there is a permanent residence of Ded Moroz from Veliky Ustyug. He comes here every year to receive the symbol of cold from the hands of Chyskhaan – the Lord of Frost. Since this moment, winter in Russia comes into power and Ded Moroz begins his pre-New Year’s trip along the cities of our country. That’s why “The Permafrost Kingdom” can be considered as the place where winter in Russia begins from. For photos, follow the link /photo-galery/permafrost-kingdom

BULUUS

Buluus is the unique source of the underground water which shapes the ice fields of clean fresh water which do not melt even in the warmest days. It is very popular among people and guests of Yakutia.

The word “Buluss” is translated from Yakut language as “glacier” or “cellar”. This place is admitted as the landscape and hydrological nature Reserve of republican significance.

Total area of the Reserve is 1105 hectares.

In some places the thickness of the ice field reaches 3 meters. The source Buluss is located 100 km far from Yakutsk near village Krasniy Ruchey in Khangalassky region. The water is produced from the cleft with the depth 67 meters.

The fresh water of Buluus is the cleanest one. During summer time the glacier partially begins to melt and forms the cavities which resemble tunnels. When the temperature in summer over the glacier is +30°C and higher, inside it is twice lower.

The temperature of the water inside the glacier is permanent throughout a year (0,1 – 0,2оС). The water of Buluus has a high quality and contains necessary microelements for human organism. The presence of silicic acid in the composition of clean water (18 – 40 mg/l), which slows down the ageing process of human organism and prevents the contraction of the different diseases, has the special significance. For photos, follow the link…